Apparatus and method for stabilizing a motorcycle during turning maneuvers

• US 7,451,994 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nevin Heitner
• Original Assignee: Nevin Heitner
• Inventors: Heitner, Nevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/923,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 280/304.3, 280/293, 280/288.4, 280/763.1
• US Class Current: 280/304.3
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 1/10 involving means providing for a stabilised ride training appliances or apparatus for cycling sport A63B69/16

Abstract

A method and apparatus and for stabilizing a motorcycle or similar two wheeled, single tread vehicle during turning maneuvers incorporating at least one support member connected laterally and extending outwards from a side of the motorcycle frame. The distal end of each support member comprises a type of contact point for providing contact with the road surface. The length and angle from the motorcycle of each support member may be adjustable in order to control the lean angle of the motorcycle for more safe and confident turning maneuvers at various speeds and corner radii. In addition, the support members are non-cumbersome allowing normal operation of a motorcycle, and provide safety features that reduce both the possibility of having an accident and the seriousness of certain “unavoidable” crashes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stabilizing a vehicle during turning maneuvers on a road surface comprising:

a support member attached at one end to the vehicle; and

a contact point at a second end of the support member, the contact point being adapted to contact a road surface during turning maneuvers;

wherein the contact point comes into contact with the road surface approximately when the vehicle reaches a greatest desired lean angle;

wherein when the contact point first contacts the road surface at a first lean angle, the support arm prevents the vehicle from exceeding the first lean angle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adjustable lean stop for setting the greatest desired lean angle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the adjustable lean stop is a length adjustment mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the support member comprises an inner member and an outer member that can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other to adjust the length of the support member.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the adjustable lean stop is an angle adjustment mechanism.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the angle adjustment mechanism is an angle plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the angle is maintained with respect to the vehicle frame with a pressure clamp, set screw, latching key, bolt and nut, or angle set piece.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the adjustable lean stop is hydraulically, pneumatically or electromechanically controlled.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprised of a manual controller located on the vehicle for controlling the position of the adjustable lean stop.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a sensor attached to the vehicle for sensing a physical state of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a computer in communication with the sensor and the adjustable lean stop for controlling the position of the adjustable lean stop.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact point comprises of a pad, ball or wheel.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact point comprises rubber, metal or plastic.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member comprises a shock absorber.

40. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact point does not come into contact with the road surface until approximately when the vehicle reaches the greatest desired lean angle.

41. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first lean angle is the greatest desired lean angle.

42. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support member extends from the vehicle at a substantially fixed angle.

15. A vehicle comprising:

at least one wheel;

a frame;

a support member attached at one end to the frame;

a contact point at a second end of the support member, the contact point being adapted to contact a road surface during turning maneuvers;

wherein the contact point comes into contact with the road surface approximately when the vehicle reaches a greatest desired lean angle;

wherein when the contact point first contacts the road surface at a first lean angle, the support arm prevents the vehicle from exceeding the first lean angle.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising an adjustable lean stop for setting the greatest desired lean angle.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the adjustable lean stop is a length adjustment mechanism.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the support member comprises an inner member and an outer member that can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other to adjust the length of the support member.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the inner and outer members are held n place with respect to each other with a pressure clamp, set screw, latching key, bolt and nut, or hook pin.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the adjustable lean stop is an angle adjustment mechanism.

21. The vehicle of claim 20 wherein the angle adjustment mechanism is an angle plate.

22. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the angle is maintained with respect to the vehicle frame with a pressure clamp, set screw, latching key, bolt and nut, or angle set piece.

23. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the adjustable lean stop is hydraulically, pneumatically or electromechanically controlled.

24. The vehicle of claim 23 further comprised of a manual controller located on the vehicle for controlling the position of the adjustable lean stop.

25. The vehicle of claim 16 further comprising a sensor attached to the vehicle for sensing a physical state of the vehicle.

26. The vehicle of claim 25 further comprising a computer in communication with the sensor and the adjustable lean stop for controlling the position of the adjustable lean stop.

27. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the contact point comprises a pad, ball or wheel.

28. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the contact point comprises rubber, metal or plastic.

29. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the support member comprises a shock absorber.

30. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprised of multiple support members, said support members located towards the front and rear of the vehicle.

31. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprised of multiple support members, said support members located on both lateral sides of the vehicle.

43. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the contact point does not come into contact with the road surface until approximately when the vehicle reaches the greatest desired lean angle.

44. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the first lean angle is the greatest desired lean angle.

45. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the support member extends from the vehicle at a substantially fixed angle.

32. A method of stabilizing a vehicle during a turning maneuver on a road surface comprising:

providing a vehicle comprising at least one wheel, a frame, a support member attached at one end to the frame, and a contact point at a second end of the support member, the contact point being adapted to contact a road surface during turning maneuvers, wherein the contact point does not come into contact with the road surface until approximately when the vehicle reaches a preselected greatest desired lean angle, and wherein when the contact point first contacts the road surface at a first lean angle, the support arm prevents the vehicle from exceeding the first lean angle;

initiating the turning maneuver;

leaning the vehicle until the contact point on an end of a support member attached to the vehicle comes into contact with the road surface; and

completing the turning maneuver.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of adjusting the support member to set the lean angle of the vehicle at which the contact point contacts the road surface.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the length of the support member is adjusted.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the angle between the support member and the vehicle frame is adjusted.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the adjustment is hydraulically, pneumatically or electromechanically controlled.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the adjustment is controlled manually from onboard the vehicle.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the adjustment is controlled by a computer in communication with an onboard sensor sensing the physical state of the vehicle.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein the support member is adjusted so that the vehicle lean angle can be set to achieve the greatest desired lean angle to safely stabilize the vehicle during turning maneuvers.

46. An apparatus for stabilizing a vehicle during turning maneuvers on a road surface comprising:

a support member attached at one end to the vehicle, the support member comprising an inner member and an outer member that can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other to adjust the length of the support member, the inner and outer members being held in place with respect to each other with a pressure clamp, set screw, latching key, bolt and nut, or hook pin;

a contact point at a second end of the support member, the contact point being adapted to contact a road surface during turning maneuvers; and

an adjustable lean stop, the adjustable lean stop being a length adjustment mechanism for setting a greatest desired lean angle, wherein the contact point comes into contact with the road surface approximately when the vehicle reaches the greatest desired lean angle.